EP2256068A1 - Shelf storage unit with a number of closable compartments - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage unit has shelf modules (2) arranged adjacent to each other along a spatial direction and accommodated in a housing (1). The modules are moved out of the housing in another spatial direction. An operating device (11) includes a covering device (12) and a door unit (13) for covering opened sides (5) of compartments (3, 4) of a part of the modules, where the part is moved out in front of a front plane of the housing. The operating device is controlled by an electronic control device such that the operating device enables access to the opened sides of the selected compartments. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for storing objects in a shelf storage unit with different closable compartments (2) a method for removing the objects from the shelf storage unit with different closable compartments.

Description

The invention relates to a bearing with a plurality of closable compartments or to methods for storing or for retrieving objects in such a warehouse.

In the prior art storage arrangements are known, which have a plurality of drawers or shelves, the subjects are closed, so that an operator can access only one particular compartment. For example, there are bearings in which each compartment has a separate lockable door (so-called lockers). There are also bearings where the individual drawers are locked and only one drawer can be pulled out to the front. Such a bearing is for example in the patent CH 696 407 A5 described.

Such bearing arrangements serve for example for the storage of tools.

In the prior art further storage arrangements are known in which a cabinet has a plurality of juxtaposed extendable shelves (also called thrust shelves). For example, such arrangements are from the utility model DE 1 872 117 U1 . DE 1 849 393 U1 or DE 1 771 205 U1 known.

In addition, from the pamphlets WO 02/29194 A1 and EP 1 382 273 A1 Bearing arrangements are known in which access to selected subjects of a shelf by means of shutters is released, each pair of shutters in the vertical and in the horizontal direction in front of a front side of the shelves are displaced.

The invention has for its object to provide a bearing in which the storage of the individual objects (such as tools) is space-saving and in which a user or operator in each case only on a selected compartment, that is, on a stored in the selected compartment object (for example, tool) can access. The access to the compartment should preferably be releasable by an electronic control device as a function of certain access conditions.

This object is achieved by a bearing with the features of claim 1 and by a method for storing an article with the features of claim 13 and a method for retrieving an article with the features of claim 16.

The inventive bearing with a plurality of closable compartments has a plurality along a first spatial direction (x) juxtaposed thrust shelf modules, which are each or housed together in a housing. The thrust shelf modules are movable out of the housing in a second spatial direction (y) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x). Each thrust rack module is subdivided into a plurality of unilaterally open compartments such that the open sides of all compartments lie in a boundary plane of the thrust rack module perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x), such that the open sides of the compartments of a thrust rack module inserted into the housing are separated by a wall the housing or a wall of an adjacent thrust rack module are closed. The housing need not be a completely closed housing; in an exemplary minimal configuration, the housing merely comprises a support structure for the push-shelf modules and a side wall preventing access to compartments of the push-shelf modules. To the second spatial direction (y) vertically arranged front sides of the inserted into the housing thrust-rack modules form a front plane. An operating device releasing access to a selected compartment is movable in front of the front plane along the first spatial direction (x). A thrust rack module containing the selected compartment can then be moved out of the housing when the operating unit is positioned on this thrust rack module, that is, in the first spatial direction has been moved to a predetermined location on this thrust rack module. The thrust shelf module can be moved out so far that the selected Compartment is located in front of the frontal level. It is conceivable that the thrust rack module is completely moved out. Preferably, however, the thrust shelf module is moved out only so far that the selected compartment is located directly in front of the front plane. The operating device has a closing device which covers the open sides of the compartments of the part of the thrust-rack module moved out of the front plane and which is controllable by an electronic control device in such a way that it allows access to the open side of the selected compartment.

The design of the bearing according to the invention has the advantage that the entire drive and sensor technology connected to the electronic control device can be integrated in the front panel movable operating device and the thrust shelf modules accommodated in the housing each represent only passive devices. In addition, due to the use of thrust-rack modules, the bearing arrangement allows any expansion by supplementing further thrust-rack modules without requiring changes to the structure of the HMI device.

The positioning of the operating device on the drawer module containing the selected compartment on the one hand and moving out of this thrust module so that the selected compartment is located in front of the front plane, on the other hand can be driven manually, the control unit having devices that prevent a wrong thrust-rack module is pulled out and access to an incorrect tray is released. Here, an arrangement is conceivable that basically only allows the extraction of the thrust module with the selected subject. Alternatively, an arrangement would be conceivable in which even false thrust rack modules are pulled out, but then remain completely covered by the HMI device, the open sides of the withdrawn module and no access window opens.

The individual thrust-rack modules preferably have the same extent in the third spatial direction (z) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) and to the second spatial direction (y); However, this is not a mandatory requirement. In addition, the thrust shelf modules need not be of the same dimension in the first spatial direction (x). There are thus thrust shelf modules conceivable that have different depths compartments (with different dimensions in the x-direction). The size and arrangement of the compartments within each thrust rack module is arbitrary. The compartments need not be arranged on continuous shelves nor in predetermined rows or columns. It merely simplifies the control when the trays are arranged in rows and columns of predetermined width and / or height.

In order for a thrust-rack module to be moved out of the housing in the second spatial direction (y), it is necessary for the operating unit to be positioned on this thrust-rack module. Preferably, it is necessary that the operating device is positioned such that the closing device of the operating device is positioned adjacent to the boundary plane of the thrust rack module.

In a preferred embodiment, the closing device comprises a covering device extending in a third spatial direction (z) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) and the second spatial direction (y) over the entire dimension of the push-shelf module for covering the open sides of the front-plane compartments moved out part of the thrust rack module, wherein the cover device leaves a in the third spatial direction (z) extending strip in the boundary plane of the moved thrust rack module uncovered, said strip enclosing the open side of the selected compartment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the closing device has a strip covering, controlled by the electronic control device door device which opens a window for access to the open side of the selected compartment. For example, the covering device extending over the entire dimension of the thrust rack module in the third spatial direction (z) is passively such that it automatically moves the open sides (except for the strip) when the thrust rack module is moved outwards. covers. In one embodiment, the cover device has a cover plate connected to the door device and located in the boundary plane of the moved-out push shelf module, the cover plate being positioned as the push shelf module is moved out so that the width of the strip in the second spatial direction equals the width of the open side of the selected compartment equivalent. This means that the thrust shelf module is moved on the one hand so far that the housing facing edge of the selected compartment is located in the front plane. On the other hand, the cover plate is positioned so that its edge facing the housing is aligned with the forward facing edge of the selected compartment. The remaining strip between the housing-facing edge of the cover plate and the front plane is initially completely closed by the door device of the HMI device. The controller, when the thrust rack module is pulled out to the above position, controls the door device to open the strip at the location of the open side of the selected compartment. This ensures that only the selected subject can be accessed.

In an alternative embodiment, the covering device has a roller shutter connected to the door device and located in the delimiting plane of the drawer module which is moved out, wherein the roller shutter extends from a retractor arranged adjacent to the door device to the front side of the moved-out drawer module. This means that the edge of the shutter when hauling out of the drawer module stuck on the front side (or otherwise held) and the shutter is rolled on further pulling out of the thrust rack module, wherein it closes the open sides of the moved-out subjects. Compared with the aforementioned embodiment with a cover plate, this embodiment has the advantage that the operating device takes up less space in front of the housing of the bearing. The space in front of the warehouse is thus only claimed when a thrust rack module is moved out into this room. Indeed the said embodiment with the roller shutter has the disadvantage that the roller shutter attaches only to the outer edge of the always the same width door device, so that although the window opened by the door device may have different heights, but always has the same width. In this case, to avoid accessing adjacent compartments in addition to the selected compartment, it is necessary that all the compartments have the same width or that an additional door is arranged in the window. This disadvantage has been avoided in the embodiment with the cover plate, that the cover plate can move behind the door device, so that the free strip can be narrower than the door device. In order to combine this advantage of the cover plate with the advantage of the roller shutter arrangement is provided in a preferred embodiment of the bearing assembly according to the invention, that the cover has a connected to the door device, lying in the boundary plane of moved out push shelf module roller shutter, wherein the shutter of a On the front side of the drawer module pushed out arranged retractor extends to the strip, wherein the roller shutter is positioned upon moving out of the push shelf module such that the width of the strip in the second spatial direction (y) corresponds to the width of the open side of the selected compartment. In this preferred arrangement, as with the movable cover plate assembly, the edge of the shutter closing the front sides can be moved behind the door device, so that the width of the exposed strip can be narrower than the door device with the doors moving along the strip , In this preferred arrangement, the roller shutter is unrolled when pulling out of the thrust rack module, wherein the retractor is moved forward with the front of the thrust rack module. The roller shutter is controlled via the retractor so that it leaves free a strip between the front plane and the edge of the shutter, the width of which corresponds to the width of the selected compartment. If then the drawer module is pulled out to the desired location, the strip is just above the selected tray. Then the door device opens in the transverse direction a window over the selected compartment.

In one embodiment, the door device comprises two sliding doors which are movable towards each other in the third spatial direction. Preferably, the door device comprises two in the third spatial direction (z) to each other movable shutters. These shutters are electronically controlled by the control device. In the preferred embodiment, the control device controls the door device such that the mutually facing edges of the two sliding doors or shutters already during the positioning of the operating device and / or during extraction of the thrust rack module in the third spatial direction (z) at one of the position of the selected compartment appropriate location are positioned and the window is opened as soon as the push shelf module is pulled out so far that the open side of the selected compartment is positioned behind the door device. This simultaneous positioning of the window of the door device while moving the HMI device and / or the push shelf module shortens the access time to the selected compartment.

In principle, the thrust-rack modules can be arranged one above the other or next to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the bearing they are arranged side by side, that is, this embodiment is characterized in that the first spatial direction (x) and the second spatial direction (y) lie in a horizontal plane.

Preferably, the electronic control device has a memory in which data each identifying a particular thrust-rack module and a particular compartment in the thrust-rack module are stored in association with data indicative of an item loaded in the particular compartment, such data being associated therewith are stored for all stored in the warehouse items. In this embodiment, the operator only needs to input data indicative of the object, whereupon the electronic control device knows which particular compartment to open. For example, it displays this to the operator by indicating the thrust shelf module to be moved out so that, for example, the operator can move the operator unit to that drawer module and then pull out the drawer module. The electronic control device then ensures that the thrust shelf module is slowed down when pulling out at exactly the position at which the selected compartment is located directly in front of the front plane. At the same time, the control device ensures that the door device releases the selected compartment. The electronic control device is thus preferably coupled to an input device by means of which an operator can enter data identifying an article stored in the warehouse and to which the operator wishes to gain access.

Embodiments are conceivable in which the operating device is automatically moved in the first spatial direction (x) to the desired thrust shelf module. In a preferred embodiment, however, the operating device is moved manually along the first spatial direction. In this case, the control device is preferably coupled to the operating device such that it can detect the correct positioning of the operating device in the first spatial direction. The operating device has, for example, sensors which can detect markings which are attached to the push shelf modules, so that the control device processing the sensor signals can determine at which position the operating device is located along the first spatial direction (x).

Preferably, the operating device further comprises a device for detecting the position of the thrust shelf module moved out of the housing in the second spatial direction (y) and the control device is coupled to the operating device such that it can detect the position of the thrust shelf module in the second spatial direction (y) , In principle, it is also conceivable for the movement of the thrust rack module out of the housing that it is automatically driven by the operating unit. However, in a presently preferred embodiment the thrust shelf module is manually pulled out after the HMI device has been positioned on it, the HMI device, on the one hand, detecting the movement of the thrust-rack module and, on the other hand, being able to brake it, for example, when the thrust-rack module has reached the correct position. Preferably, the controller controls the occlusion device to release access to the open side of the selected bin after the controller determines the correct position of the operator device (in the x direction) and the correct position of the pop-up thrust rack module (in the y direction). has recorded.

In a preferred embodiment of the bearing according to the invention, the thrust-rack modules can be manually pulled out of the housing and inserted into the housing and the operating device has a locking device which ensures that the moved-out thrust-rack module can be pulled out to a position in which the selected compartment is attached a predetermined position in front of the front plane. In this embodiment, it is preferably provided that the control device is coupled to a display device which indicates to a user to which thrust rack module the operating device is to be moved so that it can be pulled out of the housing. Preferably, the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device electromechanical adjusting device which engages in recesses or projections of the thrust rack module. For example, the recesses or the projections of the thrust-rack module form a grid, which corresponds to corresponding positions of the compartments in the thrust-rack module.

A further development of the bearing according to the invention is characterized in that perpendicular to the second spatial direction rear sides of the pushed into the housing thrust shelf modules form a second front plane, which is arranged on the opposite side of the first front plane of the housing. A second operating device releasing access to a selected compartment is movable in front of the second front plane along the first spatial direction (x). An that selected drawer containing thrust shelf module can be moved out of the housing, provided that the second operating device is positioned on the thrust shelf module before the second front plane, the thrust shelf module can be moved out so far that the selected tray is located in front of the second front plane. "Before" the second front plane means here that the selected compartment is located beyond the housing. The second operating device in this embodiment also has a closing device which covers the open sides of the compartments of the part of the thrust rack module moved out of the second front plane and which is controllable by the control device so as to release access to the open side of the selected compartment. In this embodiment, which uses two operating devices arranged on opposite sides of the housing, two selected compartments can be accessed simultaneously. For example, the one keypad may be used to enable access to trays in which an item is to be stored, while the other keypad is used to release access to trays from which it is intended to offload.

In the inventive method for storing an article in a warehouse with a plurality of lockable compartments, the bearing has a plurality of along a first spatial direction (x) juxtaposed thrust-rack modules, which are each or housed together in a housing, wherein the thrust-rack modules in one of the first Space direction (x) vertical second spatial direction (y) are movable out of the housing, each thrust rack module is divided into a plurality of unilaterally open compartments such that the open sides of all compartments in a direction perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) boundary plane of the thrust rack module lie so that the open sides of the compartments of an inserted into the housing thrust module are closed by a wall of the housing or a wall of an adjacent thrust rack module, wherein to the second spatial direction (y) vertically arranged front sides of the thrust shelf modules inserted into the housing form a frontal plane. The bearing points Furthermore, an operating device, which is movable in front of the front plane along the first spatial direction (x), wherein a thrust rack module can be moved out of the housing, provided that the operating device is positioned on this thrust module, wherein the operating device has a closing device, the open sides of the Fächer the front of the front plane moving part of the thrust module covers. In this method, first a data to be stored object identifying data is detected and entered an electronic control device of the camp. Then the article is assigned a selected bin of the store and the data identifying the article is stored in the controller in association with data identifying the selected bin. Then, the operating device is positioned by moving in the first spatial direction (x) on the push shelf module containing the selected compartment. The thrust rack module is moved out of the housing so far that the selected compartment is located in front of the front panel. Then, the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it releases access to the open side of the selected compartment. Finally, the item is stored in the selected tray.

In a preferred refinement, the data identifying the item to be stored is acquired by manually entering an identification code of the item from an operator or by machine reading an alphanumeric code or a bar code applied to the item. Preferably, additional dimensions of the object to be stored are recorded and the selected compartment of the bearing is assigned in dependence on the detected dimensions of the object in such a way that the storage volumes available in the warehouse are optimally utilized. A space-saving storage of the objects is achieved in particular by selecting a compartment that is only slightly higher, depending on the detected height of the article to be stored. The same applies to the captured width of the item and the width of the selected tray. If different deep compartments, that is, different width thrust shelf modules are used, a space optimization can be provided in all three spatial directions.

The storage of the articles in the warehouse can be carried out according to the chaotic principle, in which the selection of the compartments for the storage of the articles takes place exclusively in dependence on the detected dimensions of the articles. In an alternative embodiment, in which it is less important to the space savings or in which the objects can have only a few predetermined outer dimensions, depending on other properties of the objects order principle can be selected for storage.

In a corresponding method for retrieving an article from a warehouse with a plurality of lockable compartments, wherein the bearing has the above-mentioned features, first data identifying the item to be outsourced are input to an electronic control device of the warehouse, for example by an operator. Then, a selected compartment is determined by the control device on the basis of identifying the object to be outsourced, in which the object to be outsourced is stored. The operating device is positioned by moving in the first spatial direction on the thrust-shelf module containing the selected compartment. The push shelf module is then moved out of the housing so far that the selected shelf is located in front of the front. Then, the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it releases access to the open side of the selected compartment. Finally, the item is taken from the selected tray.

In both the storage method and the removal method, in one embodiment, the operating device is moved manually, wherein a braking and locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that the operating device is positioned on the thrust shelf module containing the selected compartment. Preferably, the thrust rack module is also moved manually, with a further braking and locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that the selected tray is positioned in front of the front plane. Finally, in the preferred embodiment it is provided that the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it only releases access to the open side of the selected compartment after the operator has entered an access authorization code.

Advantageous and / or preferred developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• Figur 1 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Lagers mit drei nebeneinander angeordneten Schubregalmodulen und einem vor der Frontebene verfahrbaren Bediengerät, wobei das rechte Schubregalmodul nach vorn herausgezogen ist;
• Figuren 2A bis 2D das in Figur 1 gezeigte Lager in vier Phasen eines Bewegungsablaufs zum Zugreifen auf ein ausgewähltes Fach im rechten Schubregalmodul;
• Figur 3A eine Frontansicht des in Figur 1 gezeigten Lagers in der in der Figur 2A gezeigten Phase des Bewegungsablaufs;
• Figur 3B eine Draufsicht auf das Lager in der in Figur 2A gezeigten Phase des Bewegungsablaufs;
• Figur 4 eine Draufsicht auf eine alternative Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Lagers mit zwei Bediengeräten;
• Figur 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines horizontalen Schnitts durch ein teilweise herausgezogenes Schubregalmodul mit einem an der Begrenzungsebene angeordneten Bediengerät mit einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Verschließvorrichtung, die eine bewegbare Abdeckplatte umfasst;
• Figur 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines horizontalen Schnittes durch ein teilweise herausgezogenes Schubregalmodul mit einem an der Begrenzungsebene angeordneten Bediengerät mit einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Verschließvorrichtung, die einen Rollladen mit einer gehäuseseitig angeordneten Aufrollvorrichtung umfasst; und
• Figur 7 eine schematische Darstellung eines horizontalen Schnitts durch ein teilweise herausgezogenes Schubregalmodul mit einem an der Begrenzungsebene angeordneten Bediengerät mit einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Verschließvorrichtung, die einen Rollladen mit einer frontseitig angeordneten Aufrollvorrichtung umfasst.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings show:

• FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the bearing according to the invention with three juxtaposed thrust rack modules and a movable front of the front panel operating device, the right thrust rack module is pulled forward;
• FIGS. 2A to 2D this in FIG. 1 bearings shown in four phases of a movement sequence for accessing a selected compartment in the right thrust-rack module;
• FIG. 3A a front view of the in FIG. 1 shown in the camp FIG. 2A shown phase of the movement process;
• FIG. 3B a top view of the warehouse in the FIG. 2A shown phase of the movement process;
• FIG. 4 a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a bearing according to the invention with two operating devices;
• FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a horizontal section through a partially pulled-out push shelf module with a arranged on the boundary plane control unit with a first embodiment of a closing device comprising a movable cover plate;
• FIG. 6 a schematic representation of a horizontal section through a partially pulled-out push shelf module with a arranged on the boundary plane control unit with a second embodiment of a closing, the a roller shutter with a housing-side arranged retractor comprises; and
• FIG. 7 a schematic representation of a horizontal section through a partially pulled-out push shelf module with an arranged on the boundary plane control unit with a third embodiment of a closing device comprising a roller shutter with a front mounted retractor.

The in the FIGS. 1 . 2A to 2D and 3A and 3B illustrated first embodiment of a bearing according to the invention comprises a housing 1, which receives three juxtaposed thrust-rack modules 2. The housing 2 is designed in such a modular manner that the shelf can be expanded by adding further housing modules with push-shelf modules 2 contained therein. The thrust-rack modules 2 are mounted in the housing on guide rails, preferably with rollers, and extend almost over the entire height of the housing 1. In the embodiment shown, the thrust-rack modules 2 are divided into compartments 3, as in FIG FIG. 1 can be seen in the region of the broken-away portion of the wall 7 of the housing or in the broken-out portion of the shutter 17. In the embodiment shown here, the compartments 3 are of the same width and height. In other embodiments, compartments of different height and width may be arranged in any manner within the thrust rack module 2, wherein the thrust rack modules may be divided into compartments in different ways. In the embodiment shown, the compartments extend almost over the entire width of the respective thrust shelf module 2 and have an open side 5 on their left end face. At the invisible right side, the walls of the compartments 3 form a wall 8 of the thrust rack module (which, for example, in the FIGS. 5 to 7 is shown).

The individual thrust shelf modules 2 may additionally be separated by a wall of the housing 1. Due to the wall 8 formed by the walls of the compartments 3 each thrust rack module 2, however, these housing walls between the thrust shelf modules 2 omitted. Only the leftmost thrust module 2 must be closed by a wall 7 of the housing 1. Of course, this wall 7 need not be made of a continuous material; it can also be in the form of a grid. The wall 7 serves only to prevent access to the compartments 3 of the leftmost thrust module 2. The housing 1 comprises in addition to the wall 7 and possibly other walls, such as a rear wall, a stable support structure for supporting the thrust shelves modules 2, which can be stored and guided hanging and / or standing. Furthermore, the housing 1 guide rails for receiving an operating device 11, wherein in the FIGS. 1 . 2A-2D and 3A, 3B a arranged on the top of the housing 1 first rail and a arranged on the front near the bottom second rail are visible.

In the preferred embodiment of the bearing according to the invention, neither the housing 1 nor the thrust-rack modules 2 contain control drives or sensors; Rather, all required for the operation of the bearing sensors and actuators are housed in the control unit 11. This has the advantage on the one hand that the thrust-rack modules 2 can be made relatively inexpensive and that the bearing can be modularly expanded without the control arrangement needing to be changed. On the other hand, this has the advantage that a branched wiring structure can be avoided within the bearing housing. There are only supply lines and signal lines to the HMI device 11 to lead. The operating device can also contain the control device, which preferably comprises a computer with various peripheral devices. Preferably, however, a portion of the controller with operator input and output devices is housed in a separate, fixed unit. This unit of the control device can either be attached to the housing 1 or arranged as a separate unit next to the housing 1. In the schematic drawings of the figures neither the parts of the control device contained in the operating device 11 are still the separate fixed parts, such as the operator console represented.

Below is the structure and function of the HMI device 11 in particular based on the movement of the FIGS. 2A to 2D be explained. In the FIGS. 2A to 2D is shown as the access to a selected compartment 4 contained in the right-hand drawer module 2 (this compartment is shown in FIG FIG. 1 shown) is released. In the in FIG. 2A illustrated starting position, the control unit 11 is located, for example, on the left edge in front of the left thrust-rack module 2. All three thrust-rack modules 2 are fully inserted into the housing 1. The parallel arranged three front sides 9 of the thrust shelf modules 2 form a front plane 10 (see. Fig. 3B ), in front of which the operating device 11 can be moved in a first spatial direction designated x.

For example, if an operator accesses the (in FIG. 1 ) selected tray 4, or when an operator desires access to a particular item stored in the selected bin 4, the operator enters either an identification of the selected bin 4 or an identification of the item stored therein on an operator console of the controller , This is typically done by means of an input device, the input being supported by outputs of a screen. For example, if the operator inputs the identification of an item that he wishes to access, the operator need not know which thrust shelf module 2 and which tray 3 within the thrust rack module 2 this item is stored in. Preferably, the control device knows the occupancy of the individual compartments 3 of the thrust rack modules 2. When the operator has then entered the identification of the desired object, the control device can display via the screen or other signaling devices (eg, illuminated displays attached to the operating device 11), in which thrust rack module and in which compartment within the thrust rack module the desired item is located. This is in the present example a selected tray 4 in the rightmost thrust module 2.

In order to gain access to the selected compartment 4 within the right-hand push-shelf module 2, the control unit 11 is first moved to the right in the x-direction so that it is located at a predetermined position in front of the right-hand push-shelf module 2. This position is in FIG. 2B shown. The operating device 11 is positioned so that the right thrust shelf module 2 can be pulled to the right of the control unit 11 to the front (this can not be seen exactly in the schematic representation). Preferably, the operating device 11 is moved manually in the x-direction by the operator. Sensors arranged in the operating device 11 detect this movement along the thrust-rack module front sides 9. The thrust-rack module front sides 9 have, for example, markings by means of which sensors of the operating device 11 can detect whether the operating device is in the correct relative position to the desired thrust-rack module 2 , As soon as this is the case, for example, the operating device 11 can be braked and locked at the correct position. The required adjusting devices are also included in the operating device 11. It is conceivable that the operator may be indicated by an indicator that he is approaching the correct position. But it is also conceivable that the operator simply moves the operating device in the x-direction until the locking or deceleration takes place.

Once the HMI device 11, as in FIG. 2B is positioned in the correct position relative to the desired thrust-rack module 2, the desired thrust-rack module 2 is pulled out to the front (that is, in the y-direction). In this case, the thrust rack module 2 is pulled forward so far that the selected compartment 4 (in which the desired object is located) is located in front of the frontal plane 10, which is formed from the front sides 9 of the thrust shelf modules 2 completely accommodated in the shelf 1. This position of the extracted thrust rack module 2 is in Figure 2C shown. It can be seen here that the open sides 5 in the Shear module 2 contained compartments 3 (see FIG. 1 ) are closed by a roller shutter 17 which engages (eg, hooks) on the left edge of the front side 9 of the push-shelf module 2 and is pulled forwards with the front side 9 of the push-rack module 2, the roller shutter 17 unrolling from an associated roll-up device 18, wherein the retractor 18 is disposed adjacent to a door device 13. The door device 13 (see. FIG. 1 ) has two narrow vertically to each other movable shutters 19, the retractors 21 are located above or below the thrust shelf module 2 on the control unit 11.

After the thrust shelf module 2 has been pulled out of the housing 1 so far that the selected tray 4 is in the y-direction in front of the front plane 10 and thus in the x-direction behind the door device 13 with the vertically movable shutters 19, the two shutters 19 of Door device 13 positioned immediately in front of the selected tray 4 and moved apart so far that opens a window 14 in front of the selected tray 4. This is in FIG. 2D shown, wherein the state according to FIG. 2D the the FIG. 1 equivalent. The window 14 opening in front of the selected compartment 4 is bounded laterally by the edges of the door device 13 of the operating device 11 and above and below by the edges 20 of the roller shutters 19 in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 14 thus always has the same width, but may be of different heights. If it is desired in this exemplary embodiment that only one selected compartment 4 of the compartments 3 of the thrust-rack module 2 can always be accessed via the window 14, the compartments 3 of all thrust-rack modules 2 should be of the same width. Of course, the subjects can be different levels. In other embodiments, in which the compartments 3 may also have different widths, the width of the window 14 of the door device 13 should be adapted to the width of the widest compartments 3. Of course, then in this embodiment is narrower subjects also an access to the selected tray 4 adjacent compartments 3 possible. In order to avoid this, the door device 13 could still have a further horizontal sliding door, which can partially close the window 14 which is open between the shutters 19 laterally. However, this would be a relatively expensive solution. Alternative solutions for the design of the closing device of the operating device, which comprises on the one hand the door device 13 and on the other hand, the covering device 12 formed from the shutter 17, are based on the FIGS. 5 to 7 explained in more detail below.

In the preferred embodiment, the thrust rack modules 2 are manually pulled forward, which in turn can detect attached to the control unit 11 sensors, whether and how far a thrust rack module 2 has been pulled out of the housing 1. In addition, the operating device 11 may have a further braking device and / or locking device, which slows down the push shelf module 2 when pulling out at a position in which the selected tray 4 in front of the frontal plane 10 and in the x-direction behind the door device 13 of the HMI device 11 is located. In order to make this possible, markings are preferably provided on the thrust-rack module 2, by means of which the sensors of the operating device 11 can detect the position of the thrust-rack module 2. Further, recesses or protrusions may be present on the thrust-rack module 2, which correspond in their position to the compartments contained in the thrust-rack module 2 and in which corresponding locking devices of the operating device 11 can engage.

The shutters 19, between the edges 20, the window 14 is opened in front of the selected tray 4, are preferably driven by two drives, which are controlled by the control device. During the positioning of the operating device 11 in front of the thrust-shelf module 2 containing the selected compartment 4 or during the withdrawal of the thrust-rack module 2, the control device ensures that the edges 20, which are still adjacent to each other, are positioned at a vertical height corresponding to the position of the selected one Subject 4 equivalent. For example, they are positioned at a height corresponding to the bottom edge of the selected bin 4. Then, once the thrust rack module 2 has been pulled out to the correct position, the control means ensures that the shutters 19 are driven so that the window 14 opens in front of the selected compartment 4.

In alternative embodiments, it is conceivable that the moving out of the thrust-shelf module 2 containing the selected compartment is also controlled by a drive which is located on the operating device 11 and engages the thrust-rack module 2 in a suitable manner. It would also be conceivable that the positioning of the operating device 11 in the x direction in front of the thrust shelf module 2 is controlled automatically by the control device by a further drive. Finally, it would also be conceivable that the removal on the one hand and the storage of objects on the other hand is carried out by an automated control unit. However, these developments are currently not preferred.

The FIGS. 3A and 3B show a front view and a top view of that in the FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2D illustrated bearing, wherein in the FIGS. 3A and 3B the in FIG. 2A shown state in which the operating device 11 is located in front of the leftmost thrust module 2. In the in the FIGS. 3A and 3B dargstellten embodiment, an operating device 11 in front of the front sides 9 of the thrust shelf modules 2 in the horizontal x-direction movable. The thrust shelf modules 2 are movable out of the housing 1 in the y-direction forward.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment with two control units 11 and 22. An additional control unit 22 is movable in front of the backs of the thrust shelf modules 2 in the x-direction. In this embodiment, the thrust rack modules can be moved out of the housing 1 in the y-direction either forward or backward. In this way, the first operating device 11 can be positioned in front of a first thrust-rack module 2, which is moved out to the front, and access a selected compartment in the thrust-rack module 2. simultaneously For example, the second operating device 22 can be positioned in front of the second front plane 23 in front of a second thrust-rack module 2 and access a second selected compartment of this second push-shelf module 2. For example, the first operator control device 11 can release access to a selected compartment for the purpose of relocating an object while the second operator device releases access to another compartment in another push shelf module for the purpose of storing an article.

In the FIGS. 5 to 7 3 schematically illustrates three embodiments of a closing device of the operating device 11, which, in addition to a door device 13, have three embodiments of a covering device 12 for covering the open sides of the compartments 3 of a push-shelf module 2. The schematic representations of FIGS. 5 to 7 show horizontal sections through a thrust shelf module 2 with different widths of compartments 3, which is partially pulled out of the housing 1. The open sides 5 of the unilaterally open compartments 3 form the boundary plane 6. The closed sides form a wall 8 of the thrust module 2. The control unit 11 is adjacent to the boundary plane 6 and closes the open sides of the compartments 3 of the pulled out of the housing 1 Part of the thrust rack module 2.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the control unit 11 next to the door device 13 with the vertically movable shutters 19 has a cover 12, which includes a movable cover plate 15 in the y direction. The cover plate 15 is connected to a side of the door device 13 via a linear drive shown as a box 27. The cover plate 15 has, in the y-direction, a dimension corresponding to the dimension of the push shelf module 2 in the y-direction minus a minimum width of the window 14, that is, the minimum width of a tray 3. When accessing a selected compartment of predetermined width, the cover plate 15 which slides behind the door device 13, that is, behind the roller shutters 19, is positioned so that between the in FIG. 5 left border of the door device 13 and the edge of the cover plate 15, a strip 16 remains of a width corresponding to the width of the selected compartment 4. If then the thrust shelf module 2 has been pulled out so far that the selected tray 4 is positioned in front of the frontal plane 10 of the housing 1, then the open side 5 of the selected tray 4 is in the strip 16. Subsequently, the shutters 19 open in the vertical direction in front of the selected compartment, so that a window 14 is opened, whose height corresponds to the height of the selected compartment and whose width corresponds to the width of the selected compartment.

In the FIG. 5 illustrated embodiment has the advantage that not only the height of the window 14 but also the width of the window can be set arbitrarily, so that subjects 3 different height and width can be used. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that the cover plate 15 extends into the space in front of the frontal plane 10 of the housing 1, even if none of the push-shelf modules 2 is pulled out of the housing 1.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the closing of the HMI device 11, the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 . 2A to 2D and 3A, 3B equivalent. The door device 13 with the vertically movable shutters 19 here has a width which corresponds to the maximum width of the compartments 3. Adjacent to the door device 13, a retractor 18 for a horizontally forwardly extendable roller shutter 17 is arranged on the operating device 11. The roller shutter 17 has on its front side a device 24 which engages the front side 9 of an extended thrust module 2 and then pulls out the roller shutter 17 from the retractor 18 when pulling out the thrust module 2. When re-inserting the push shelf module 2, the retractor 18 ensures that the roller shutter 17 is rolled again. In the FIG. 6 illustrated embodiment has the disadvantage that the open of the door device 13 windows 14 always the full width of the door device 13 have. In the case of two narrower compartments 3 arranged next to one another, it can thus not be ensured that access to only one compartment is possible. However, the embodiment according to FIG. 6 the advantage that it only relatively little in the space in front of the housing 2 extends, if none of the thrust shelves modules 2 is pulled out.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment that the advantages of the in the FIGS. 5 and 5 united embodiments shown. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7 a horizontally movable roller shutter 17 slides behind the door device 13 with its vertically movable shutters 19, so that with the roller shutter 17, the width of a strip 16 not covered by the open sides of the compartments 3 can be adjusted. The width of the strip 16 then determines the width of the access window 14. In the embodiment according to FIG FIG. 7 the retractor 18 is arranged for the roller shutter 17 adjacent to the front side 9 of the thrust shelf module 2 pulled out. With the help of a device 24, the retractor 18 engages the front side 9 of the thrust module 2, when it is pulled out to the front. By the reference numeral 26, a device is characterized, on the one hand, the retractor 18 fixed to the control unit 11 connects and on the other hand allows a flexible distance between the door device 13 and the retractor 18.

Numerous alternative embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the inventive concept. In contrast to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the thrust-rack modules 2 can be of different widths, which leads to different depths of compartments 3. In addition, it is conceivable that two or more stacked thrust module modules are also provided instead of a thrust module 2, wherein for example after positioning of the HMI device 11 in front of these vertically stacked thrust rack modules only that thrust rack module is moved forward containing the selected tray. In this embodiment, it is conceivable that instead of a over the entire height of the stack of drawer modules extending cover device, for example, instead of a full-height extending shutter, a plurality of less wide cover devices or shutters are used, one of which (r) extends across the width of one of the stacked thrust module 2. Instead of juxtaposed thrust-rack modules 2, in which the compartments 3 are accessed from one side, the thrust-rack modules 2 can also be arranged one above the other, in which case the compartments 3 are accessed from above, that is, the open sides 5 of the compartments 3 are upwards point.

Embodiments are also conceivable in which the compartments 3 each contain drawers which can be pulled out in the x-direction by the window 14 opened by the operating device 11 in order to remove or insert the object or objects stored therein. In addition, embodiments are also conceivable in which the open sides of the compartments initially each have their own flap or door, which also open after opening the window 14 by the operating device, for example, fold out to release the access to the subject. In this case, the "open side" of the unilaterally open compartment is understood to mean that side which has this flap or door.

Claims (18)

Bearing with a large number of lockable compartments (3), comprising: a plurality of thrust-rack modules (2) arranged next to one another along a first spatial direction (x), which are accommodated in each case or together in a housing (1), wherein the thrust-rack modules (2) are movable out of the housing (1) in a second spatial direction (y) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x), wherein each thrust rack module (2) is subdivided into a plurality of compartments (3) open on one side such that the open sides (5) of all compartments (3) are delineated in a boundary plane (6) of the thrust rack module (2) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) ), so that the open sides (5) of the compartments (3) of a thrust-rack module (2) pushed into the housing (1) are defined by a wall (7) of the housing (1) or a wall (8) of an adjacent thrust-rack module (2 ) are closed, wherein to the second spatial direction (y) vertically arranged front sides (9) of the inserted into the housing (1) push shelf modules (2) form a front plane (10), and an operating device (11) which enables access to a selected compartment (4) and which is movable in front of the front plane (10) along the first spatial direction (x), wherein a thrust rack module (2) containing the selected compartment (4) can be moved out of the housing (1), provided that the operating unit (11) is positioned on this thrust rack module (2), whereby the thrust rack module (2) can be moved out as far as possible in that the selected compartment (4) is located in front of the front plane (10), wherein the operating device (11) has a closing device (12, 13) which covers the open sides (5) of the compartments (3, 4) of the part of the thrust rack module (2) moved out in front of the front plane (10) and which is thus of electronic type control device is controllable, that it releases the access to the open side of the selected compartment (4). Bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing device comprises: a cover device (12) extending over the entire dimension of the push shelf module (2) in a third spatial direction (z) perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) and the second spatial direction (y) for covering the open sides (5) of the compartments (3 , 4) of the front of the front plane (10) moved out part of the thrust module (2), wherein the cover (12) in the third spatial direction (z) extending strip (16) in the boundary plane (6) of the thrust rack module moved out (2 ), which includes the open side (5) of the selected compartment (4), and a door device (13) covering the strip (16) and controlled by the electronic control device, which opens a window (14) for accessing the open side of the selected compartment (4). Bearing according to claim 2, characterized in that the covering device (12) has a cover plate (15) connected to the door device (13) and lying in the boundary plane (6) of the moved-out push shelf module (2), the cover plate (15) moving out of the push shelf module (2) is positioned such that the width of the strip (16) in the second spatial direction (y) corresponds to the width of the open side of the selected compartment (4). Bearing according to Claim 2, characterized in that the covering device (12) has a roller shutter (17) connected to the door device (13) and lying in the boundary plane (6) of the moved-out push-shelf module (2), the roller shutter extending from one adjacent to the retractor (18) arranged on the door device (13) extends to the front side (9) of the pushed-out shelving module (2). Bearing according to Claim 2, characterized in that the covering device (12) has a roller shutter (17) connected to the door device (13) and lying in the delimiting plane (6) of the moved-out push-shelf module (2), wherein the roller shutter (17) of a roll-up device (18) arranged on the front side (9) of the moved-out push shelf module (2) extends up to the strip (16), the roller shutter (17) being positioned in such a way that the width of the strip (17) is moved out of the push shelf module (2). 16) in the second spatial direction (y) corresponds to the width of the open side of the selected compartment (4). Bearing according to one of claims 2 - 5, characterized
in that the door device (13) comprises two sliding doors or shutters (19) which can be moved towards one another in the third spatial direction (z). and
in that the control device controls the door device (13) such that the mutually facing edges (20) of the two sliding doors or shutters (19) during positioning of the operating device (11) and / or during extraction of the push shelf module (2) in the third Room direction (z) are positioned at a position corresponding to the position of the selected compartment (4) and the window (14) is opened as soon as the push shelf module (2) is pulled out so far that the open side of the selected compartment (4) behind the door device (13) is positioned. Bearing according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the electronic control means comprises a memory in which data each identifying a particular thrust rack module and a particular compartment in the thrust rack module, in association with data that einliegen in the particular compartment Identify item are stored, these data associated with each stored in the warehouse items are stored. Bearing according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the control device is so coupled to the operating device (11) that it can detect the correct positioning of the operating device in the first spatial direction (x). Bearing according to claim 8, characterized in that the operating device (11) has a device for detecting the position of the moving out of the housing thrust shelf module (2) in the second spatial direction (y) and the control device is so coupled to the operating device (11) in that it can detect the position of the push shelf module (2) in the second spatial direction (y). Bearing according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device controls the closing device (12, 13) in such a way that it releases access to the open side of the selected compartment (4) after the control device determines the correct position of the operating device and the correct position of the operating device out moved thrust shelf module (2) has detected. Bearing according to one of claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the thrust shelf modules (2) manually from the housing (1) can be pulled out and in the housing (1) can be inserted and that the operating device (11) has a locking device, which ensures that the moved drawer module (2) can be pulled out to a position where the selected compartment (4) is at a predetermined position in front of the frontal plane (10). Bearing according to one of claims 1 - 11, characterized
that at the second spatial direction (y) vertically arranged rear sides of the pushed into the housing (1) push-shelf modules (2) form a second front plane (23), and
that an access to a selected compartment (4) releasing the second operating unit (22) in front of the second front plane (23) along the first spatial direction (x) is movable,
wherein a push shelf module (2) containing the selected compartment (4) can be moved out of the housing (1), provided that the second operator unit (22) is positioned in front of the second front plane (23) on this push shelf module (2), wherein the push shelf module (2) as far as it can be moved out that the selected compartment (4) is located in front of the second frontal plane (23),
wherein the second operating device (22) has a closing device which covers the open sides of the compartments of the part of the thrust rack module (2) moved out of the second front plane (23) and which is controllable by the control device such that it accesses the open side of the selected compartment (4) releases. Method of storing an article in a warehouse with a plurality of lockable compartments,
wherein the bearing has a plurality along a first spatial direction (x) juxtaposed thrust-rack modules, which are accommodated in each case or together in a housing, wherein the thrust-rack modules in a direction to the first spatial direction (x) second spatial direction (y) are movable out of the housing wherein each thrust rack module is subdivided into a plurality of unilaterally open compartments such that the open sides of all compartments lie in a boundary plane of the thrust rack module perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) so that the open sides of the compartments of a thrust rack module inserted into the housing a wall of the housing or a wall of an adjacent thrust-rack module are closed, with front-side sides of the thrust-rack modules pushed into the housing forming a front plane perpendicular to the second spatial direction (y),
wherein the bearing further comprises an operating device, which is movable in front of the front plane along the first spatial direction (x), wherein a thrust rack module can be moved out of the housing, if the operating device is positioned on this thrust rack module, wherein the operating device has a closing device, the the open sides of the subjects of the covering the front plane moving part of the thrust rack module, wherein: a) data identifying an object to be stored are recorded and entered into an electronic control device of the warehouse, b) the item is assigned a selected compartment of the warehouse and the data identifying the item are stored in the controller in association with data identifying the selected compartment; c) the operating device is positioned by moving in the first direction in which the thrust-shelf module containing the selected compartment is positioned, d) the thrust-rack module is moved out of the housing so far that the selected compartment is located in front of the frontal plane, e) the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it releases access to the open side of the selected compartment, and f) the article is stored in the selected compartment. A method of intercalation according to claim 13, characterized in that in step a) the identifying data to be stored are acquired by manually entering an identification code of the item from an operator or by machine reading an alphanumeric code or bar code applied to the item. A method of intercalation according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that additionally in step a) dimensions of the object to be stored are detected and in step b) the selected compartment of the bearing is assigned in dependence on the detected dimensions of the object such that the in Storage available storage volumes are optimally utilized. A method of retrieving an item from a warehouse having a plurality of lockable compartments,
wherein the bearing has a plurality along a first spatial direction (x) juxtaposed thrust-rack modules, which are accommodated in each case or together in a housing, wherein the thrust-rack modules in a direction to the first spatial direction (x) second spatial direction (y) are movable out of the housing wherein each thrust rack module is subdivided into a plurality of unilaterally open compartments such that the open sides of all compartments lie in a boundary plane of the thrust rack module perpendicular to the first spatial direction (x) so that the open sides of the compartments of a thrust rack module inserted into the housing a wall of the housing or a wall of an adjacent thrust-rack module are closed, with front-side sides of the thrust-rack modules pushed into the housing forming a front plane perpendicular to the second spatial direction (y),
wherein the bearing further comprises an operating device, which is movable in front of the front plane along the first spatial direction (x), wherein a thrust rack module can be moved out of the housing, if the operating device is positioned on this thrust rack module, wherein the operating device has a closing device, the covers the open sides of the compartments of the part of the thrust rack module moving in front of the front plane, wherein: a) the data to be outsourced are entered into an electronic control device of the warehouse, b) a selected compartment is determined by the control device on the basis of the data identifying the object to be outsourced, in which the article to be stored is stored, c) the operating device is positioned by moving in the first direction in which the thrust-shelf module containing the selected compartment is positioned, d) the thrust-rack module is moved out of the housing so far that the selected compartment is located in front of the frontal plane, e) the locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it releases the access to the open side of the selected compartment, and f) the item is taken from the selected compartment. Method for storing according to one of Claims 13-15 or for outsourcing according to Claim 16, characterized in that
in that the operating device is moved manually in step c), wherein a braking and locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that the operating device is positioned on the thrust shelf module containing the selected compartment, and
that in step d) the thrust rack module is moved manually, wherein a further braking and locking device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that the selected tray is positioned in front of the front plane. The method for storing according to one of claims 13-15 or 17 or for retrieving according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the closing device of the operating device is controlled by the control device such that it releases the access to the open side of the selected compartment, after the operator has entered an access authorization code.

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